Abstract
Minor Attraction Syndrome is an attraction to peri to postpubescent minors, though not considered as a psychiatric disorder but illegal in social norms and law. The study’s primary purpose is to discover the lived experiences, reason on their attraction to minors, challenges, fears, and realizations of gay adults’ sexual contacts with these minors in Pangasinan particularly in the municipalities of Pozorrubio and Sison. The study used a qualitative research method using an unstructured interview anchored on the Theory of Sexual Offending, Maslow’s Hierarchy Theory, Theory of Sexual Economics, and Social Exchange Theory. Purposive Sampling and Snowballing Sampling was used to identify participants for the study. Data collection was conducted for the month of October 2024. The study had 10 participants in which 5 were from Pozorrubio, Pangasinan and 5 were from Sison, Pangasinan and all of them had met the criteria to be participants. Their responses were analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, particularly the Heideggerian type of phenomenology. The study revealed that the participants had never been sexually abused as children, which would suggest that this was an immediate cause of their behavior. Participants also have a craving for sexual fulfillment, and even though they are aware that it is immoral to interact with minors, they use rationalization to defend their behavior. Another issue among the participants is the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Child grooming is also possible for the other participants in the near future and these minors are engaged in small scale prostitution. It is an eye opener for the situation of these gay people, the minors, the families of these minors and the those the government responsible for these kinds of cases. This study recommends more studies to be conducted to further validate these issues in other municipalities. Together with the support from both private and government sectors, with the involvement of the gay community and the families of minors and the minors alike, issues like these can be addressed to further increase awareness and prevent minor prostitution.
